Scouring pad gripper



1949. F. H. ELLINGER SCOURING PAD GRIPPER Filed Dec. 14, 1946 "INVENTOR.

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Patented Oct. 18 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCOURING PAD GRIPPER Flora H. Ellinger, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 14, 1946, Serial No. 716,280

1 Claim.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in the art of scouring, and relates more particularly to improvements in the construction and operation of holders or gripping implements for aiding in the manipulation of scouring pads, sponges, and the like during cleansing operations.

A primary object of my present invention is to provide a new and useful gripping implement for scouring pads of various types which is simple, compact, and durable in construction, and which is moreover highly efficient in operation.

The average housewife often experiences considerable difiiculty in manipulating wire mesh and cloth pads, sponges, and the like during scrubbing and scouring operations; and this is especially true when it is necessary to tightly grip the pad and to apply considerable pressure in order to remove the foreign matter and thoroughly cleanse diverse objects such as pots and pans. When wire mesh or steel wool pads are used in the customary manner for effecting removal of hardened substances from the surfaces of objects such as'cooking and eating utensils or implements, sharp wire ends protrude from the pad, making it exceptionally difficult for the housewife to effectively grip the scouring pad with her usually delicate hands; and quite frequently these sharp protruding wire ends cause painful scratches or skin punctures which are highly susceptible to infection. It has heretofore been proposed to provide instrumentalities for gripping these scouring pads for purposes of manipulation. However, the scouring pad holding implements heretofore proposed, although 1 effective in operation, have been unduly bulky and complicated and therefore relatively expensive; and these prior devices have furthermore been of such construction as to necessitate handling of the scouring pad during positioning thereof between the clamping members, thereby not entirely eliminating danger of injury.

t is therefore a more specific object of the present invention to provide an improved implement for aiding in the manipulation of scouring pads or the like which obviates the disadvantages attendant devices heretofore proposed.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide an improved scouring pad gripping implement which may be readily manipulated by a novice to firmly grip the pad or other scrubbing member without the necessity of handling such scrubbing member.

Another specific object of my invention is to provide an improved household device which is especially adapted for use in gripping and manipulating scouring pads for dishwashing and like purposes.

Another specific object of the invention is to which is extremely flexible in its adaptations and which may be utilized with utmost safety.

A further specific object of my present invention is to provide an improved scouring pad gripping unit which comprises few parts which may be readily manufactured and assembled in large quantities of available materials for sale at exceedingly low cost.

An additional specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved safe and sanitary cleaning implement which is especially adapted for use in cleansing cooking and eating utensils and which is extremely sturdy despite its simplicity.

Still another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved scouring pad gripping implement comprising, a pair of swingably connected jaws having pivotally united manipulating portions and clamping teeth associated therewith remote from the pivot.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting my present improvement and of the mode of constructing and of utilizing scouring pad grippers built in accordance with my invention may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a side view of an improved scouring pad gripping implement constructed in accordance with my invention, and showing a scouring pad clamped in place between the jaws;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the device with the jaws substantially closed and the pad removed therefrom;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device, showing a scouring pad clamped in place between the jaws as in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an end view thereof with the jaws in open position and the pad removed.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as being specifically applied to a scouring pad holder especially adapted for dishwashing and like purposes, it is not my desire or intention to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement.

Referring to the drawing, the improved scouring pad gripping implement comprises, in general, an elongated gripping and manipulating handle I!) of a length and shape conforming to the average hand and composed of two similar sections II, the handle sections or gripping portions ll having integral cooperating and axially alined lug l2 which are pierced longitudinally by a pivot pin 13 to form a hinge for the portions l l at one side of the handle l0, and the portions ll each being formed with an integral attaching flange I4 projecting outwardly therefrom remote from the hinged connection; and a pair of clamping jaws I5, eachof which is secured to one of the flanges I4 by means of screws or rivets I6, and each of the jaws I5 being provided with a series of inwardly directed cooperating teeth or serrations I I.

The hinged gripping portions I I forming. the handle I may be made of any suitable material such as plastic, hard rubber or wood molded or otherwise formed to the desired shape; and the inner or opposing surfaces I8 of these gripping portions function to arrest pivotal closing movement of the portions I I' when the handle I0 is gripped tightly by the user. The two outer or end lugs I 2 are formed integral with the opposite ends of one handle section II, while the middle or intermediate lug I2 is formed integral with the mid-portion of the other handle section II, as illustrated in" Fig. 1. The clamping jaws I may preferably be readily formed of sheet metal or the like in an obvious manner; and these jaws are bowed outwardly beyond the points of attachment thereof to the flanges I 4 as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4' so that a considerable portion of a scouring pad IB'rn'ay be received in the space between the jaws, thereby permitting the teeth IT to effect a tight grip on the pad I9 during use of the device.

The various parts of the improved device may obviously be readily assembled by attaching each of the jaws I5 to the flange I4 of its respective handle portion II by means of the rivets or screws I6, and thereafter axially alining the lugs I2 of the ripping portions II and passing the pivot,

pin I3 longitudinally through the alined lugs. If screws or the like are used for attaching the jaws I5 to the flanges I4 of the handle sections II, the device may obviously be quickly and easily dismantled by a novice if desired.

In actual use of the improved gripping implement, it is merely necessary to swing the jaws I5 and handle portions II about the pivot pin I3, as shown in Fig. 4, until the teeth H are spread a sufficient distance apart to achieve a firm bite in the pad IS. The open jaws I5 are then placed in contact with the pad I9, and upon application of gripping pressure to the handle II], the handle portions I I and jaws I5 are swung about the pivot pin I3 toward closed position with the serrations or teeth I1 biting into the pad I9 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The pad I9 will thus remain firmly clamped by the jaws I5 of the improved implement as long as gripping pressure is applied to the handle I0, and the device may be manipulated by the handle I0 so as to rub and effectively cleanse the desired surfaces with the scouring pad I9, When it is desired to remove the pad I9 from between the jaw I5, it is only necessary to release the grip on the handle I0 and spread the jaws I5 in an obvious manner.

From the foregoing detailed" description, it is apparent that my present invention provides an improved scouring pad gripping implement which is extremely simple in construction and which is moreover highly efiicient in actual use. Obviously the user need not handle the scouring pad I9 either during the positioning and clamping thereof between the jaws I5- of the improved device or during manipulation thereof in actual use during the scrubbing operation, thereby eliminating danger of injury and affording maximum sanitation. The device may be used in securing diverse articles with either wire mesh, steel wool, or cloth pads, as well as sponges or the like, and is highly effective in gaining access to corners and relatively inaccessible places. The improved devices are exceptionally helpful and applicable to household use, and may be manufactured and sold at exceptionally low cost. The improved implement is composed of relatively few parts and may be quickly and easily manufactured of available materials and assembled in large quantities. As is apparentfrom the drawing, the inwardly directed teeth I! are staggered and intermeshing for firm clamping of the pad I9 or the like; and the handle sections I I are preferably formed of a heat-insulating material such as plastic. Despite the simplicity and compactness of. the devices manufactured in accordance with the invention, these devices are extremely durable and fill a definite need for the average housewife and household employees; and the improved implement may be gripped and manipulated in a natural manner with utmost safety tothe user.

While the improved gripping implement has been specifically shown and described herein as embodying clamping jaws and teeth of a particular formation secured to the handle portions by rivets or screws for gripping a scouring pad, the device may obviously be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the improved units may obviously also be utilized for other than dish-washing purposes.

It should therefore 'be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claim may occur to persons killed inthe art to which this invention pertains.

I claim:

A scouring pad gripping implement comprising, an elongated manipulating handle having a pair of sections a longitudinal semi-cylindrical edge of one of which is provided with spaced integral end lugs and the corresponding semi-cylindrical edge of the other of which is provided with an integral medial lug disposed within the space between said end lugs, said lugs having axially alined openings pierced by a pivot pin to provide a hinge for said sections and the longitudinal edge of each section remote from the hinge being provided with an integral attaching flange, and a pad gripping jaw secured to the inner side of each flange and having teeth cooperable with the intervening pad.

FLORA I-I. ELLINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

